Customer Reviews

Hook Me Up

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This album is an amazing insight into the Aussie group's growth. As a very big fan of the first album, I was very scepticle of this albums release. Would they be able to carry on the cleverly crafted songs from The Secret Life Of...? True, this album is different from the first. The album has a heavier rock sound with some computerization introduced to enhance its 80's rock/pop genre. Let me tell you though, this album is fantastic. Realistically, we cannot expect the girls to produce a "carry on" from their last album, how dull would that be? They have grown musically and branched out into a new sound.
With electro 80's esk songs like Hook Me Up, Untouched and the (almost flashdance like) sound of This Is How It Feels, leading the way, making room for slower numbers like the fantastic I Cant Stay Away. This album is amazing, and we should be congratulating the girls, not comparing them to their previous work!

I have to admit, I was waiting on this album for what seems like an eternity. I expected a sound extremely similar to what "The Secret Life" cd offered, but when I heard the first single "Hook Me Up" I was kind of blown away to the polar opposite this cd took from its predecessor. It is not in the same genre, the same ball park, the same planet as the first cd. Putting that all aside, it was went far beyond the maturity level of the first cd, and completely topped all expectations that I had for it. The sound is much more upbeat; however, the words seem deeper and more dramatic, perhaps growing up a little with their fan base. If you miss the older sound of The Veronicas, you should give the track, "All I have" a listen, its them, just a different sound, and a different playing field, not locking them in to the stereotypical kind of pop cookie-cutter sound that's going on today. A bit of a playful edge is offered instead. This is definitely a cd worth buying. It's amazing!

When you have such pop perfection as "4 Ever," a track that seemed almost solitarily responsible to the rise of teen rock pop, it is difficult to imagine any possible way to redefine yourself as an artist. Especially when there are two of you that look the same. Twin sisters Jess and Lisa Origliasso are The Veronicas, and after having taken the world by storm in 2006, return with their sophomore effort, Hook Me Up.

In the realm of stylistic changes, the shift from the rockier Meredith Brooks/Tracy Bonham The Secret Life Of... to the glam electro of Hook Me Up may seem, at first, an alienation of the fans garnered with the former album. One review I saw early on was a discontent fan clamoring about the complete and utter lack of guitars. What does that say to me? Listen to the damn album! The Origliassos haven't abandoned anything they did in 2006, with the exception of neglecting to work with Max Martin again. They've built on every single foundation they created on The Secret Life Of..., providing not only a more entertaining vehicle for their talents, but a more mature level of songwriting and expression of pain, loss, loneliness, and regret. From the first moment the album starts, the fine hairs of an expert bow sliding across taut strings that is the melodic opening of "Untouched," you know you're in for something different and special. "Untouched" is fast, both in BPM and in the way the twins vocally present the song, yet it proves once again that speed and pain are not mutually exclusive ideas. While the track begs and pleads with you to move along with it, it also implores you to be moved BY it, as the girls sing like, "I feel so untouched right now/ Want you so much somehow/ Just can't resist you/ It's not enough to say that I miss you." I am inextricably bound. The album's title track, which is also it's lead single, "Hook Me Up," is an electropop tune with a serious drive to the dance floor (check out Tommy Trash's vocal version, quite fun!).

The album is upbeat and fun, yet surprisingly adult and moody. Tracks like "Revenge Is Sweeter (Than You Ever Were)", "This Love," and "I Can't Stay Away" are all bittersweet in their lyrical content yet complete knockouts in musical delivery. "Revenge" hearkens back to The Secret Life Of... in that it features a more guitar-driven sound than a lot of the album, but maintains the flow and energy of the rest of the disc. Despite the content of the track, the song would be considered upbeat musically due to the high BPM and drum style. "This Love," the third Australian single off of the album, features a more straightforward synth-pop sound, even going so far as to emulate a-ha's "Take On Me" as the pivotal moment in the track. The last of my trio of favorites, "I Can't Stay Away," describes the addiction to a person, sexually, and the admission of that addiction. The song is powerful and moving, the Origliassos' vocals soaring over one of the slower songs on the album.

Hook Me Up features a bevy of other potential singles, all as good as the next, but I do want to point out one last one before leaving the rest a mystery. "Popular" at first seems like a random track, very atypical to the rest of the album. It is an extremely self-indulgent, tongue-in-cheek response to their own rapid rise in fame. With lyrics like, "And I get what I want/ My name is my credit card," you can see the humor within the lyrics. Upbeat, very poppy, but eventually the complete inanity of it grew on me and I now count it as one of my favorites. Don't discount this song due to the extreme contrast it poses to the rest of the disc or their previous material. Give it a shot, you might just like it.

Summary: Hook Me Up is a well-crafted and immensely enjoyable dance pop album and should continue The Veronicas reign as the reigning pop band. A winner.

If you're like me then `Untouched' is like totally one of the best songs you've heard in a long time. I mean, I can't help but be completely entrenched in my instinctive adoration of that song. Put it on, place me in the center of the dance floor and watch me be very, very happy.

Having said that; `Untouched' is not the best track on the album.

The Veronica's are a new delight for me. I have not heard their debut album, but I'm thinking I'm going to have to take a look (although I hear that it is very different from this one). I remember the first time I heard untouched. I actually saw the music video (on Fuse, since MTV no longer plays them) and I was blown away. Not only was the song great but the video was stunning and the two sisters singing side by side were DROP DEAD GORGEOUS! Needless to say, I was intrigued. I'm not one who walks out and buys an album because of one song, but two, now I'll do that. That's when I head `Take Me on the Floor' and I just KNEW that I had to have this album.

Thank you thank you thank you.

No, the album is not `perfect', but there is enough perfection on here to validate my ranting, I promise you.

I think `Take Me on the Floor' is probably my favorite club track on the album. It's just so slick, seductive and energetic. The girls have very similar yet very complimentary vocals and they mesh extremely well on this track. The bridge ("I wanna kiss a girl, I wanna kiss a boy") is exceptional and just gives me chills. I love these girls, really. `Hook Me Up' falls in the same vein as the two singles; very club ready and energy inducing. I love the bubble beat going on here, and chorus is very, very catchy. Speaking of catchy and club worthy' `Popular' is BRILLIANT. It has a very different vibe than the other tracks here. It's bouncy yet very sharp, hitting every word with every beat and creating an intense and impressive musical chemistry between the singers and the musicians.

`This is How it Feels' has a very jumpy beat. It's probably my least favorite of the `club' inspired tracks, but it still has value. It is the reason the album received an `explicit' sticker (which is rather ridiculous for ONE f-word). `Goodbye to You' was the first single off the album (at least I think it was beings that I heard this song FOREVER ago and just didn't know that it was sung by these girls). I love the bouncy `fun' factor that this song has. It's such a `teen' song, but whatever...I love it.

`This Love' has that similar `teen' bounce to it, but it is a softer track than `Goodbye to You'.

These girls really capitalize on their vocals on this album, proving that just because they don't release wildly creative or mature music, it doesn't mean that they don't succeed in what they do best. Be aware, this is intelligent pop music, which means that if you walk in expecting Britney Spears fluff then you're in for a very nice surprise, but if you are expecting something musically profound you will be let down a tad. If you know what you're going to get you'll be very satisfied though.

Think Kelly Clarkson with electronic influences.

There is a delicacy in `I Don't Wanna Wait' that I really like. The contrast of the edgy, almost fierce delivery in the verses and the sweet and vulnerable delivery in the chorus is played against one another very well. Speaking of vulnerability, `In Another Life' is another side of these girls; such a soft and sincere emotional ballad. As far as break up ballads go, `Someone Wake Me Up' is pretty accurate and effective. `All I Have' has a rock edge to it that stands out from the pack. It's one of my least favorite tracks here. It's not a bad song, but it lacks some of the elements that make the other songs stand out. My least favorite song here is `I Can't Stay Away'. I just don't like the awkward way they say those words. I don't know; small complaint but there has to be a least favorite song and that one happens to be it.

And then there is my favorite track on the album; `Revenge is Sweeter (Than You Ever Were)'. UGH, what can I say; I just LOVE this song. The pre-chorus is stunning, and the way their voices escalate as they reach "Revenge is sweeter than you ever were" is just drool worthy. The way they soft speak each word is lovely, and the way their words crack under the emotional connection (seriously, you know they mean this) is just impeccable. Yes, it's `pop' music, but it's pop music done extremely well!

So, if you want a pop album that stands out as better than average (MUCH better than average) then this is the album you need to get. I can't wait to see what these girls come up with next.

I am already a big fan of The Veronicas, so when I heard they changed their sound from pop/rock to elctro/pop I wasn't sure if I would like it but then I decided to give it a chance and I love it!!!! The songs are very upbeat and fun to dance to. My favorites would have to be Untouched, This Love, I can't stay away, and Popular!!

I absolutely love 'Hook Me Up', so when I heard the latest single 'Untouched' I rushed out to buy The Veronicas.

If you like Paramore, Avril Lavigne, Gwen Stefani/ No Doubt and/or a musical combination of Techno/ Electronica/ 80's Synthesized Drumbeats through to Hard Rock/Punk Pop infused together then you'll like The Veronicas latest offering, It is very edgy/catchy, more mature sounding.

If you were expecting more of the same, their are only minor glimpses of that on this album likened to 'leave Me Alone' on the secret life of the veronicas, then you will like 'Someone Wake Me Up' and 'In Another Life'.

On first listen though I wasn't sure if I liked this album as I think I was expecting songs like what were on their debut, but with each listen through it gets better and now I love it. For me 'Untouched' and 'This Is How It Feels' even surpass my expectations of great songs, but then all the songs are good. This album is fantastic. If you can look forward to a newer updated sound and not judge this album on it having to sound like 'The Secret Life Of The Veronicas' you'll enjoy it more.

Track Listing.

Untouched
Hook Me Up
This Is How It Feels
This Love
I Can't Stay Away
Take Me On The Floor
I Don't Wanna Wait
Popular
Revenge Is Sweeter (Than You Ever Were)
Someone Wake Me Up
All I Have
In Another Life

I was a fan of veronicas and I believed they are the best twin ever. Their debut was a very unique rock with good written songs. I was expecting the same from their new sequel...oh no.

This album is not like their debut. It's a total pop. All the good rocks were gone. I am not sure if this is what they wanted. They had a very good drummer. This guy is really one in a million. But, no more real instruments in this album.

I am not saying this album is bad or what. Just disappointed when you are looking for the next rock album to stick with for next couple of years. Their songs are good, lyrics are good. Meaningful and catchy. They can keep their voice, or a little more mature now.

Overall these songs are good to have, when you don't have many choices on the market. I would be happy to have acoustic remixes however.

Favorites: Untouched, Hook me up.

I heard the girls live on the radio and were blown away by their voices. So I bought this album. Well, they are much better live! The computer generated music did nothing for them. The accoustic set I heard them with sounded so much better. With the drum machines, it sounds like a Tatu album from years ago. They are so much more talented than that. I can't believe they sold out this bad. I gave this album a 3 because their voices are fantastic and I know they have much more potential than this!

I've got the full album and it leaves me to wonder what happened to the rockish roots they tried out on the debut? They went full blown T.a.t.u/ trance rock on this album...not that ...I really care, it's still snazzy music. If you're looking for the blend that made them famous- you most likely won't get it on here. I love an artist expanding and trying new things, but a lot of the "trancey" beats sound alike. Which makes each song sound a bit like the last....however if that doesn't bother you- give it a whirl- it's still a fun album...despite the big beats covering up the emotions they try to relay to the listener.

If you like this cd you'll probably like T.a.t.u "dangerous & Moving" and Shiny Toy Guns "We Are Pilots"

I bought this CD on a whim because I had heard their version of Goodbye to You on a TV commercial. I had no idea what to expect, but I listened straight through it and thought it was really catchy and a different sound than a lot of pop music out there today. It has a real '80s soundtrack feel with a modern pop-rock edge. The lyrics aren't poignant in the least, but that doesn't really matter because the sound is what draws you in. You can't help but want to dance to it; it's a great CD to listen to if you need a pick-me-up. The songs flow into each other really well, and there aren't any I need to skip over (sometimes you get some clunkers). I jokingly described it to a few friends as Kelly Clarkson on speed as told by Flashdance, and was told I was accurate. :)